Kansas City CPA Recognized for 43 Years of Service to Nonprofit Organizations
Lisa A. Gioia, an independent financial management and accounting consultant, has been presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who. The recognition honors her 43-year career helping nonprofit organizations manage their finances and achieve their missions.
Ms. Gioia established her independent practice in Philadelphia in 1990, specializing in financial management for nonprofits. Her expertise developed through diverse roles including audit manager at Laventhol & Horwath, where she worked in Kansas City and Philadelphia, and teaching positions at Eastern University.
“Working as a CPA for nonprofit organizations brought me the greatest satisfaction of my career,” Ms. Gioia said. “These organizations make a real difference in their communities, and I’ve been so proud to help them succeed financially.”
Ms. Gioia graduated summa cum laude from Avila University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts in accounting, international management and French. She later earned a Master of Public Administration in nonprofit management from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2007, strengthening her focus on the nonprofit sector.
Her commitment to professional development has included memberships in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the American Society of Women Accountants, the Missouri Society of CPAs and the Kansas City Volunteer Lawyers & Accountants for the Arts. She currently serves on the board of trustees at Avila University.
“My parents were my biggest influences,” Ms. Gioia noted. “My father was a teacher who handled finance activities, and my mother served as head dietitian at the University of Kansas Medical Center. They showed me the value of education and public service.”
The Wall Street Journal has featured Ms. Gioia as a Top Professional. She has received multiple honors, including induction into Phi Kappa Phi National, Pi Alpha Alpha National, Kappa Gamma Pi and Delta Epsilon Sigma honor societies. Other recognitions include Volunteer of the Year by Community Accountants, Accountant Advocate of the Year by the Small Business Administration, and the 2022 Ingram’s Local Heroes and the 2023 Northfield Village Good Neighbor Awards.
“I plan to continue volunteering with nonprofit organizations,” Ms. Gioia said. “There’s always more work to be done in our communities.”
During her early career, Ms. Gioia developed her expertise through various roles at Laventhol & Horwath. She began as an audit supervisor in Kansas City from 1981 to 1986, then advanced to manager in the Executive Office of the National Accounting and Auditing Department from 1987 to 1990. She later served as audit manager in the firm’s Philadelphia office from 1989 to 1990.
After leaving Laventhol & Horwath, Ms. Gioia spent eight years as an independent auditor and tax professional in Philadelphia from 1990 to 1998. During this period, she also contributed to professional education through multiple teaching and training roles. She served as an adjunct instructor for graduate programs at Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, from 1993 to 1997. Simultaneously, she worked as a contract trainer for The Pew Charitable Trusts from 1995 to 1997 and as a contractor for continuing education at the Foundation Accounting Education and for the Center for Professional Education throughout our states, from 1991 to 1997.
Ms. Gioia maintains active membership in several professional organizations that keep her abreast of industry developments. Beyond the previously mentioned associations, she also belonged to the Community Association of Nonprofit Business Executives and United Way of Greater Kansas City. Her commitment to the nonprofit sector extends through her board service at Avila University, where she earned her undergraduate degree.
The Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes professionals who have demonstrated exceptional career accomplishments over extended periods. Ms. Gioia’s selection reflects her sustained contributions to financial management in the nonprofit sector and her dedication to professional excellence throughout her 35-year independent practice.
About Marquis Who’s Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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